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Solidarity with the CUPE protests
The CUPE protest was about more than just one collective agreement: it was – and is – about standing together as working people and telling Ford 'enough is enough'
Doug Ford's anti-worker agenda has been apparent from the start.
The protest by 55,000 education workers who belong to CUPE's Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU), which began on November 4, 2022, was – and is – about far more than just one collective agreement for just this group of education workers.
The battle between Ford and working people has had an impact on workers in almost every sector.
Ford scrapped paid sick days and minimum wage increases in 2018. He capped wage increases and stepped on the collective bargaining rights of public sector workers with Bill 124. He refused to legislate paid sick days for most of the pandemic, and then –ignoring the advice of health professionals – permitted three days but only for COVID-related illness.
And in early November, Ford brought the fight to CUPE's education workers. Just weeks after spending about $365 million to pay parents $200 - $250 per child to help those kids "catch up," Ford's Conservatives refused to bargain in good faith with CUPE.
Instead, Ford preempted CUPE's protest by not only legislating them back to work, but also by invoking the notwithstanding clause and threatening – bullying – the workers with fines of $4,000 per day of picket action in violation of the back-to-work legislation.
CUPE and its supporters across the province called Ford's bluff.
On November 4 and 5, your Union stood on picket lines across the province in solidarity with the 55,000 education workers. On November 7, Ford agreed to rescind the legislation and return to bargaining.
education workers deserve better pay and our schools are in desperate need of better funding across this province,” added President Haggerty. “This move by Ford has very little to do with the quality of education for our children and everything to do with limiting the rights of working people. He and his government continue to be dangerous for both workers and our publicly funded systems.”
As this magazine goes to print, CUPE has reached a tentative agreement with the government.
Read more at ufcw175.com/FordIsABully and find more photos on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
Members of UFCW Local 175 & supporters stand next to CUPE members in protest in Leamington.
At the Kitchener protest alongside CUPE members.
Secretary-Treasurer Tosato (right) stands next to Local Union staff and other supporters to protest with CUPE in Beamsville on November 4.
HOPE (LTC/Retirement) Regional Director Sandra Ashcroft (right) holds a UFCW Locals 175 & 633 flag while standing next to a CUPE member at the Bracebridge protest.
